Caltex Socceroos have ‘come of age’ as winner-take-all clash looms

Caltex Socceroos defender Trent Sainsbury says Australia is well placed to handle the pressure of their winner-takes-all World Cup qualifier on Wednesday night at Stadium Australia.

Australia is in a good position heading in to the second leg in Sydney after an impressive display in a 0-0 draw away to Honduras on Saturday (AEDT).

Another huge crowd is tipped as the cauldron of World Cup qualification reaches its climax.

The Caltex Socceroos arrived at Sydney airport around 1pm on Sunday (AEDT) with Sainsbury keen to stress 2017’s challenges have steeled this relatively young group.

“We’ve done it multiple times. There’s always a lot of pressure.

We had it in the Syria games – we dealt with that [pressure].

“Confederations Cup [in June] we dealt with those.

“I think this team is coming of age now, and the next step is to beat this Honduras team and have a really good World Cup," he told waiting reporters.

However, in the month of the 20th anniversary of the Iran World Cup nightmare, the WA-born 25-year-old is under no illusion about next Wednesday night, noting complacency can kill in international football.

And with so much at stake, Honduras will feel they are very much in this tie.

“If you’re playing in a league team, you can mess up but the next weeks you can have another game and another game.

“Coming to international football it’s do-or-die," added Sainsbury.

“You make a mistake and it could be the end of the road. No complacency."